Corn-husking machine.



No. 739,540. PATENTED SBPT.22.1903; J. E, 9005mm. com HUSKING momma.

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J. B. GOODHUE. GURN HUSKING'MAGHINB. I APPLIGATIDH FILED JULY 30, 1.902.

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J1 @WW No. 739,540. PATENTBD SEPT. 22, 1903.-.

J. E. GOODHUE.

CORN HUSKING MAGHINE. APPLIGATION FILED JULY 30, 1902. no MODEL. 5 SHEETS-SHEET a.

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1% 9,540. PATENTBD SEPT. 22, 1903.

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PATENTED SEPT. 22, 1903.

J. E. GOODHUB.

CORN HUSKING MACHINE.

APPLIIOATION FILED JULY 30. 1902.

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i atented September 22, 1903 [PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES E. eoonnnn, or sr. CHARLES, rumors.

CO RN-HUSKING MACHlNE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters PatentNo. 739,540, dated September 22, 1903.

Application filed July 30. 1902. Serial No- 11'7,642. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMESE. GOODHUE,a' citizen of the United States, residing at St. Charles, in'the county of Kane and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Corn-Husking Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to corn-h usking machines of the type shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States .No. 683,174, granted to me September 24, 1901,

which patent shows a machine employing yielding huskloosening fingers supported in advance of the husk-removing mechanism to render more thorough the operationof the latter.

My present object is to provide certain improvements in and additions to theconstruction shown in my aforesaid patent with a view to increasing-the capacity of the machine and making it more certain and positive in operation, and also with a View to obviating all danger of loss of corn-kernels which mayfall from the ears during the husking operation, and, furthermore, to render the machine more perfect, economical, an desirable for its purpose.

Generally stated, my present machine operates as follows: The ear-carrying stalks when thrust into the machine are advanced through snapping-rollers which break oi the ears and throw them upon husk-loosening mechanism, where the husks are loosened to facilitate their removal. The cars are discharged from the husk-loosening mechanism to husk-removing rollers which strip oft" the husks and silk, causing the ears with the kernels thereon to be discharged from one end of the machine. As the stalks pass beyond the snapping-rollers they are engaged by rotary cutting-knives and chopped into feed, the feed being discharged from the machine at the end -thereof opposite that from which the ears are discharged. The husks and silk as they fall from the husking-rollers are moved along to mingle and be discharged with the chopped stalks. Any kernels of corn which may be loosened from the ears during the husking are separated from' the husks and silk and discharged from another part of the machine.

Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are broken views which, taken together, show the entire machine in side elevation; Fig. 3, a broken plan View of the lower or discharge end portion of the husk-removing mechanism, the view being taken from line 3 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a broken partly-sectional end view of the same, the section being taken on line 4 in Figs. 2 and 3; Fig. 5, a broken and enlarged central longitudinal section of a part of the machine, taken on line 5 in Fig.

11; Fig. 6, a longitudinal section of an end portion of the machine, the view being in the nature of an extension of the view shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7, an enlarged broken section taken on line 7 in Fig. 5; Fig. 8, an enlarged broken section taken on line 8 in Fig. 1; Fig. 9, a broken elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the snapping-rollers; Fig. 10, a section taken on line 10 in Fig. 9; Fig. 11, a broken plan view of parts of the machine, the view being taken from line 11 in Fig. 5; Fig. 12, an enlarged broken plan view of the under side of one of the slats or finger-carrying sections of a traveling husk-loosening member; and Figs. 13 and 14, sections taken, respectively, on line 13 and 14 of Fig. 12.

A is the frame of the machine, consisting of uprights, beams, and braces constructed to suitably support'the operating parts of the machine. Forminga part of the main frame is a bearing-platform B between more or less upright side boards B. Supported beyond opposite ends of the platform B are shafts B B respectively, carrying sprocket-wheels B over which run endless chains B carrying an endless series of cross-slats B The platform B operates as a guide and bed across which the slatted apron B moves to feed the stalks to the snapping-rollers O D.

The peripheral faces of the snapping-rollers are formed, as shown most plainly in Figs. 9 and 10, with numerous recessesor cavities a, wide and comparatively deep at one end and tapering and becoming gradually more shallow toward the opposite end. The recesses are in parallel series around each roller,

those of one series extending intermediate those of the adjacent-lying series, and each recess in the turning of the rollers registers with a companion recess on the other roller, whereby as they move toward each other they form gradually-closing pockets to receive and .it in detail.

engage stalks fed to them. The operation can be best understood by referring to Fig. 10. WVhen the end of a stalk is thrust into the bite of the rollers, it will enter an open but gradually-closing pocket formed by companion recesses a and abut against the abrupt shoulders formed by the ends a at the deep portions of the recesses. the rollers the shallow ends a of the recesses grip the stalks and squeeze them flat, thereby obtaining a powerful'hold thereon, for the reason that the stalks swell into the pockets. In the movement of the stalks between the rollers they are engaged by the successive recessed portions, filling the pockets, so to speak, and insuring firm gripping and consequent forward feeding of the stalks. The rollers D O are upon shafts O D, respectively journaled at opposite ends in upright journal-plates E, bolted to the main fr'ameof the machine. Integral with the plates E is a housing E, extending across from side to side of the machine over the snapping-rollers, being shaped in cross-section as indicated most plainly in Fig. 5. On the inner sides of the plates E are ribs E forming guards which, as shown in Fig. 7, overlap the ends of the rollers and prevent materialfrom crowding in between the ends'of the rollers and the adjacent faces of the plates E. The bearings for the shaft D are rendered yielding by springs D in a common manner, so that the roller D may yield slightly with reference to the roller 0. This construction being common, it is not thought necessary to illustrate The shafts G D are provided at one side of the machine with intermeshing gears 0 D and the shaft C also carries a sprocket-wheel G On the shaft C, atthe opposite side of the machine from that shown in Fig. 1, is a gearwheel 0 and sprocket-wheel C (See Figs. 7 and 5.)

Just beyond the snapping-rollers and journaled in bearings on the main frame is a shaft F, which is the main drive-shaft of the machine. At one end it carries a drive-pulley F (see Fig. 1) and adjacent thereto a small pulley F It also carries a pinion F which meshes with the gear-wheel G On the shaft F, between its bearings, isarotary stalk-cutter G, having cutter-blades G, working past a stationary cutter-block G extending from side to side of the main frame adjacent to the snapping-roller O, as shown in Fig. 5.

At the lower forward side of the snappingroller 0 is a forward-inclined deflecting-plate b, and at the under side of the cutter-block G2 is a downward and backward extending deflecting-plate c, all as shown in Fig. 5.

Mounted in the frame just beneath the delivery end of the traveling feed platform or apron B is a plate or support H, forming, with the yieldingspring-fingers H thereon, the stationary member of the husk-loosening mechanism. The support H extends entirely across the machine and is fastened at elon- In the turning of gated openings H in its ends with bolts or the like to the side frames of the machine. It inclines forward, as shown, and is provided at its rear end with a downward-extending deflecting lip or guard H The fingers H may be in three rows, as shown in Fig. 5, each row consisting of fingers placed at the desired distance apart. The fingers have backwardrojecting free end portions H and are adaptd to yield readily in the forward direction, by which is meant the direction toward the left in Fig. 5. The construction may be the same in the main as in my aforesaid Letters Patent, and the elongated openings H allow for slight adjustment in the vertical plane.

Journaled in the frame in the positionsv shown are parallel crosswise-extending shafts I I, provided toward opposite ends with sprocket wheels 1 Extending over the sprocket-wheels are endless sprocket-chains K, the links of which are provided, as shown in Fig. 12, with laterally-projecting attaching-flanges K, whichproject inward or toward each other from the chains. The chains carry an apron consisting of an endless series of alternate wood andv metal slats K K respectively fastened at their ends to the flanges K of the links K. The wooden slats K have tapering edges, as shown. The metal .slats K are formed, as shown in Figs. 12, 13,

and 14, with the upper plate portions 01 and flanges d d on their under sides. At intervals along each slat K are openings e through the plate (1, extending from the flange d to the flange d and registering at the flange d with a gradually-diminishing recess 6, extending to the edge of the slat, as indicated in Fig. 13. L L are yielding fingers mounted in the slats K Each finger L is coiled between its ends about a stud f, extending from a head f, fastened by means of a bolt) to the under side of the slat. One end of the finger is bent to rest in a recess f in the block and be clamped thereby firmly in place. Between the ends, as aforesaid, the finger is curled several times around the stud fand passes thence through the adjacent opening 6, as shown most plainly in Fig. 13. Each finger has a bent free end portion L and may yield under pressure in the backward direction until it rests in the recess 6, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 13. The surfaces of the slats K and K form a practically continuous platform or apron and constitute, with the spring-fingers L, the movable member of the husk loosening mechanism. Beneath the path of the upper side of the apron described is a bearing-platform g, suitably supported between the shafts I I to hold the slats as they slide over it against downward yielding. The upper surface of the apron is shown to be inclined at an angle slightly less than the angle of inclination of the member H; but they may be parallel. It is simply necessary that they should be approximately parallel,

and their relative adjustment may be changed to meet varying conditions by raising or lowalong the center, as shown.

ering the part H on its supporting-bolts, this being rendered possible by the elongatedslots H V M M are pairs of companion husking-rol'lers of the same construction substantiallyasinmy aforesaid former patent. Theinner adjacent recessed rollers M are journaled at opposite ends in stationary bearings 71, and the outer companion smooth rollers are journaled at opposite ends in laterally-sliding bearings h, inwardly pressed by the springs 11*. The spring-pressed sliding bearings may be the same at opposite ends of the rollers. At their upper ends the rollers are provided with pinions 1', the pinions of companion smooth and recessed rollers intermeshing, as shown in Fig. 11. On the shafts of the recessed rollers M, adjacent to the pinions t', are bevelpinions '11, meshing with the bevel-pinions t on the cross-shaft 2' carryingabelt-pulley 71' at one side of the machine. Mounted in the frame beneath the movable husk-loosening member is a guard-plate N, (see Figs. 5 and 11,) which extends over the gears t if t and bearings h h'at that end, terminating at its forward edge beneath the forward end of the traveling apron. At opposite sides of the husking-rollers M M are inclined boards k k, and between the rollers M is a low partitionstrip 1, beveled on opposite sides to a point P is an endless conveyer comprising endless chains m at op-. posite sides, connected at intervals by conveyer bars or strips m.

Extending beneath the bushing-rollers from the end of the machine upward to a point beyond the upper ends of the rollers is an inclined platform R. The conveyor-chains at each side run over sprocket-wheels n on a shaft 72 beneath the bearings at the lower ends of the bushing-rollers, thence upward across the platform R and to the opposite end of the machine, where they pass over sprocket-wheels p on a shaft p at that end, thence under idle pulleys g on the shaft g at the base of the machine, as shown.

On the innersides of the main frame beyond the upper end of the platform R are angular metal guide-strips 0",, extending nearly to the rear end of the frame, all as shown most plainly in Figs. 5, 6, and 8. The strips r form longitudinal guideways 7" for the edges of a reciprocating sifting device S. The sifting device consists of sides 8, a base-plate s, and a perforated plate 3 the full width and length of the sifting device above the base 8.

Mounted on the frame in a plane below the guides 'r are stirrups t t, as shown most plainly in Figs. 1 and 8, and extending through and beyond opposite sides of the sifting device beneath the perforated plates s? are supporting-bars 5 which extend into and slide in the guides formed by the stirrups t. At the upper end of the sifting device S is an outlet 3 and at the lower end of the device is an inclinedlaterally-extendingchute 8 extending past one side of the machine. Mounted in driving power.

the frame in the position shown is a shaft a, carrying a pulley a. The shaft u is formed with-a crank, as shown in Fig. 5, to which is connectedthe pitman '0, which is pivotally connected at 'u to the under side of the sifting device S.

In the frame, between the upper and lower stretches of the conveyor P, is a fan-blower (frame or casing T, which discharges into the sifting device over the chute s and beneath the perforated plate 3 in the direction of the outlet 3 at the upper end of the sifting device. In the casing T is a rotary fan-blower T on a shaft T carrying a pulley T beyond the side of the frame. As before stated, the shaft F is the drive-shaft of the machine, the pulley F thereon being belted to a suitable (Not shown.) An endless belt X passes over the pulley F on the shaft F, thence under the pulley a on the shaft u, thence over an idle pulley w on. a shaft w', journaled on the side of the frame, thence around the pulley t on the shaft i thence under and around an idle pulley a; on a shaftw, jonrnaled on the side of the-frame, all as shown in Fig. 1. At the opposite side'of the machine the shaft F is geared,,by means of its pinion F to the large gear-wheel C on the shaft 0. An endless chain Y extends from the sprocket-pinion C on the shaft 0' overa sprocket-wheel l on the shaft I, thence under an idle sprocket y, and thence around a sprocket-wheel B on the shaft B An endless drive-chain Z extends around the sprocket wheel C on the shaft G and a sp'rocketwheel 23 cm the shaft 19, and the pulley T is driven by a belt T from the pulley w. Thus all moving parts of the machine are driven at desired relative speeds.

In operation the stalks carrying the ears of corn are thrown upon the traveling feed platform or apron formed by the slats B and fed with their butt-ends forward in the direction of the snapping-rollers O D. The stalks are engaged by the pockets of the snapping-rollers, as before described, and fed along. As they pass through the snapping-rollers the ears are engaged and snapped off and fall through the opening between the deflectors 12 H As the stalks pass beyond the snap ping-rollers they are chopped into feed by the rotating cutter G, the feed falling and being directed by the deflector cont-o the perforated sifting-plate 3 toward the upper end thereof. The ears dropping between the deflectors b H fall upon the traveling apron K K where they are engaged by the backwardly-yielding spring husk-loosen ing fingers L. The deflector or guard H prevents the ears from passing beneath the same while in an upright position,

compelling them to assume a horizontal position before moving forward. As the ears are moved they are engaged by the yielding'fingers L H on opposite sides, which penetrate the husks and silk and effect thorough looseningthereof while the ears are being rolled along under the action of the moving apron;

IIO

The object of the spring-fingers here shown is the same as in my aforesaid former patent-that is to say, to loosen the husks and 'silk without loosening the kernels of the ears.

The advantages of the present construction of the movable husk-loosening member over my former construction are that thereby a more positive and even distribution of the ears is effected and they are fed with great uniformity to the husking-rollers. Thus all danger of the accumulation of ears beneath the snapping-rollers and their being fed in bunches to the husking-rollers is avoided. Furthermore, in the present construction the feeding is effected across the full width of the traveling apron, which may be the full width between the side frames of the machine. In the movement of the ears between the husk-loosening members thorough loosening of the husks and silk is effected, whereby as the ears drop to the husk-removing rollers M M they are in condition to have their husks and silk engaged and thoroughly stripped ofi by the said rollers. The guard-plate N prevents any dust portions of husks or silk or inadvertently-loosened kernels of corn from dropping into the gears at the upper ends of the husking-rollers. Hanging in the frame in the position shown in Fig. 2 is a swinging plate V. Any ears of corn thrown forward by the traveling husk-loosening member will strike the plate V, which operates as a deflector, and be caused to drop upon the upper end portions of the husking-rollers.

While my improved husk-loosenin g fingers and husking-rollers will tend to reduce to the minimum any loosening effect upon the kernels of corn, it is impossible to prevent a ma terial quantity of kernels from dropping from the ears during the husk-loosening and huskstripping operations. One of the objects of my present construction is to prevent loss of these kernels. As the husks and silk are stripped from the cars they pass downward between the husking-rollers and are deposited upon the conveyor-platform B, being moved by the conveyer slats or bars on upward along the said platform and thence over the perforated plate 8 and discharged through the outlet .9 A plate R is fastened along its lower edge to the upper end of the platform R and passes loosely over the perforated plate 3 to bridge across the space between the upper end of the platform R and lower end of the perforated plate. Any kernels of corn loosened from the ears in the husk-loosening or husk-removing operations will pass between the rollers M M and fall, with the husks and silk, upon the platform It and be conveyed upward across the bridgeplate R to the perforated plate 8 In the rotation of the crank-shaft u the sifting device S is reciprocated rapidly, and in its reciprocation its movement in the backward direction is more rapid than the movement of the conveyor-strips m. This shaking action of the perforated plate causes any kernels of grainthat may be carried thereto by the conveyor to drop through upon the base 8 and run out at the chute s. The fanblower T sends a current of air through the sifting device beneath the plate 8 which current is strong enough to drive any particles by the plate 0 to the sifting-plate s and is conveyed, with the husks and silk, to the discharge end of the machine. The feed falls upon the-siftingplate 8 toward the discharge end of the machine at a point beyond that portion where the sifting of the kernels from the husks and silk takes place. Thus such kernels will not be mixed with the feed at all. Any kernels of corn that may pass the snapping-rollers and be mixed with the feed will also be separated by the sifting device S and discharged through the chute 8 To prevent particles of feed from being thrown out of the machine by the rotary chopper, I provide a hood E which is hinged to the hood E at E whereby it may be raised to give access to the chopper when desired.

My improved machine has great capacity and operates to clean the ears thoroughly of the husks and silk without loosening the kernels from the ears to any material extent. Any kernels that do become loosened and fall from the ears are cleaned from dust and discharged separately from the machine.

While I prefer to construct my improvements throughout as shown and described, they may be variously modified in the matter of details of construction without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined by the claims.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a corn-husking machine, companion, oppositely-rotatin g snapping-rollers provided in their circumferential faces with cavities, each wide and deep at one end and gradually tapering and becoming shallower at the opposite end, the cavities in each roller registering with coincident cavities in the other roller as they approach the bite of the rollers, whereby they form the opposite concave sides of stalk-receiving and gradually-closing pockets, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a corn-husking machine, the combination of means for loosening the husks preparatory to the subsequent removal thereof from the ears said means comprising a stationary series of husk engaging and loosening yielding fingers and a traveling endless apron carrying like fingers and adapted in its upper traverse to convey the ears, said stationary and movable fingers cooperating to loosen the husks, and husk-removing mechanism receiving the cars from said apron.

3. In a corn-husking machine, the combination of means for loosening the husks preparatory to the subsequent removal thereof from the ears said means comprising a stationary series of husk engaging and loosening yielding fingers, a traveling endless apron formed of a series of parallel slats and yielding fingers carried by the slats and cooperating with the stationary fingers in the upper traverse of the apron to efiect the loosening of the husks, and husk-removing mechanism below and receiving the ears from said apron.

4:. In a corn-husking machine, the combination of means for loosening the husks preparatory to the subsequent removal thereof from the ears said means comprising a stationary series of husk engaging and loosening yielding fingers, a traveling endless apron formed of a series of parallel slats alternately plain and carrying yielding fingers, the movable and stationary fingers cooperating in the upper traverse of the apron to effect the loosening of the husks, and husk-removing rolls below and receiving the ears from said apron.

5. In a corn'husking machine, a husk-loosening member comprising a traveling apron formed with slats having seriesof openings, detachable blocks on the under sides of the slats provided with studs, and spring-fingers clamped at one end by said blocks, coiled between their ends around said studs and passing outward through said openings, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JAMES E. GOODHUE. v In presence of- -ALBERT D. BACOI,

L. HEISLAR. 

